Rapid Fusion and Applied Automation strike manufacturing deal

Two southwest tech firms have joined forces to bring a world-first industrial 3D printer to market. Rapid Fusion and Applied Automation have signed a new manufacturing agreement to produce Medusa, a UK-designed, large-format hybrid 3D printer.

The machine, which combines pellet and filament extrusion with CNC machining, is aimed at sectors including aerospace, automotive, marine and construction. Backed by £1.2m from Innovate UK, Medusa promises three times the speed and double the accuracy of conventional systems, with significantly reduced maintenance and training costs.

Applied Automation will manage assembly and testing at its Plymouth facility, with first commercial units due in early 2026. The deal is expected to generate over £5 million in first-year sales and create up to 10 jobs.

“This partnership gives us the best chance to launch a truly disruptive product,” says Rapid Fusion CTO Martin Jewell. “We’re proud to keep manufacturing here in the southwest.”